Betters hit the books

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, June 27, 1997 | 11:17 a.m.

Mike Tyson isn't the only one seeking revenge Saturday night.

His long-awaited rematch with Evander Holyfield will give local sports books a chance to make back some of the millions they lost when the two first fought Nov. 9. Holyfield opened as a 25-to-1 underdog in some books, and received most of the action, closing as low as 5-to-1.

This time around, bettors won't have the chance to make such a killing, although Holyfield remains the underdog.

"The only reason that it can't happen like that again is that bettors will not be able to get 15-to-1, 12-to-1 or 10-to-1," said John Avello, sports book director at Bally's. "But that doesn't mean we'll do well. Right now, all the money we are getting is on Holyfield."

Tyson opened a --230 favorite (a bettor must wager $230 to profit $100) but has dropped to --190 as early money has poured in on the champion. Holyfield returns +160.

"Once the heavy hitters come in, we'll see how it goes," Avello said. "The first fight was more of an event with more celebrities coming in. I don't think there was anywhere near as many big gamblers as there will be for this fight."

Chuck Esposito, assistant sports book director at the Las Vegas Hilton Superbook, also anticipates long lines at the betting windows this weekend.

"I think because the price is so competitive and not so one-sided that the handle will be astronomical," Esposito said. "Early indications are that it will be."

Tyson is only --180 at the Hilton, down from an opening number of --220.

Although the rematch is an obvious reminder of the November nightmare Nevada houses suffered, Esposito said it isn't something to dwell on for bookmakers.

"If you looked at every fight we've booked, we're still ahead on Tyson," he said. "You can't just look at that one fight, as bad as it was. In the long run, we've done well."

Avello said that even with an adjusted line, there are no guarantees.

"You can never anticipate that, 'You won the first time, I'm going to win this time.' We have to book the fight the way we normally book it and hope the outcome is in our favor," he said.

"If they beat us, they beat us. We're just bookmakers. We can't get in the ring and fight."